Name: John Gillespie Age: 53 Gender: Male Occupation: Missionary Social Class: Middle class Financial situation: Fairly good due to my parents Appearance: I look older than my age. However, I smile a lot which makes me look friendly. I am tall and have short hair. Location: Nanking Habitual locations: Mostly, I stay at my house or work at hospital. During weekends, I go to Holy Cross Church. Daily routine: I wake up early in the morning for my missionary works. Then, I eat my lunch and read newspapers for world news and the issues in China. In the afternoon, I work at a hospital assisting American doctors that came to help the Chinese. During night, I usually write diaries and letters to my parents and read bible. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: I am smart and generous. I tend to help people a lot with my own will, using my own time. I was never pressured or forced by other people because this is my job, and I chose to come here. I love my family and always consider my family as the first factor to do something. Past/individual-family history: My parents live in Pittsburgh, and my dad was a professor at the university of Pittsburgh. My parents are both Christians which made me a devoted Christian. Family: I have wealthy parents in the United States and four sons after marrying my wife, Faith Backhouse, who is also a missionary. My family is currently living in Nanking except for my parents. Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): Even though I am a wealthy American, I care for poor Chinese people by supporting them. Therefore, I have relations with a lot of low-class people. I felt something special with the Chinese that I couldn't feel in the United States. Also, I am the chairman of Nanking committee of the international Red Cross Organization. Therefore, I always help people who need help. Religion: Christianity Education: Yale University Portrait: see right
Diary #1: Calm Before the Storm
August 18th, 1937 (The flags featured seem a bit incongruous with this story: the flag of the PRC did not fly in Nanking at the time of the RON, and typically, when flies are crossed like they are here, it is a sign of international cooperation)
A few days ago, I heard the surprising news which I was expecting to happen. Japan has finally declared war on China after many years of preparation. I’ve been waiting for this because the Japanese were going to declare war on China anyway. My friend that I’ve been working with visited my house to share information and plan for the dangerous future. I heard from him that the Japanese educated and trained their young students to hate and get ready to kill the Chinese when they grow up like robots. From this I could infer that the Japanese must have been abhorring the Chinese for many years! Even though the Japanese’s education system sounds a little determined and systematic, it completely makes sense because Japan probably could achieve whatever they want by planning everything out. They proved that they could do what others cannot do like the Chinese by succeeding in modernizing. However, I thought the best scenario for me was to begin and finish the war as fast as possible so I could continue my work instead of watching horrendous bodies of innocent people lying on the streets. I can’t imagine walking down the street full of bloody, dead bodies. It would just be a nightmare. Even though I might not be able to fight for the Chinese, I decided to do everything possible to help these poor people, especially kids who don’t know what is going on. After having a long conversation with my friend, we went outside to see people’s behaviors. Actually, everything stayed the same. Running down the street, the kids seemed unexceptionally happy as usual. I couldn’t find much difference between today and a few days ago because people just didn’t know what this city would turn into once the Japanese invasion begins. I sincerely hope that not many casualties result in this war....including my dearest wife and sons.
Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
November 18th, 1937
It’s been a long time since I wrote my last diary. I am writing this diary entry now because a few days ago, the Japanese troops finally invaded Nanking, the capital of this nation. The time has come. The city looked completely different from three months ago when just the rumors were around. Every building was burned as the Japanese troops passed by. I could not even say that this was their capital city after it was attacked dominantly. All I could see were ashes on the ground that I could feel every time I stepped forward. I needed to do something instead of just sitting around in my room. Casualties increased as the war was intensified.
While I was worried about the Chinese people including the soldiers and families, I went to the hospital of Nanking University. It was nice and big, and most importantly, it was the safest area in Nanking so far because it was deep inside the city. When I stepped inside, I saw a enthusiastic white-skinned doctor taking care of the Chinese. It was Dr.James Henry McCallum, and his wife, Eva, was there also. He was a missionary from the United States like me. We had a lot of common points together in this foreign continent. I decided to stay here until the war ends because I was motivated by Dr.McCallum’s hard work and personality. I felt like we needed more people to help and cure these wounded soldiers that never seem to decrease. Dr.McCallum was a generous and kind person. He took care of soldiers as if they are his family members. We talked about the situation of China, and he was miserable about this because the war was going on after he came. As a doctor, he hoped for peace in this land and wanted to cure people with illnesses, not these bloody scars. He also told me that a lot of Chinese soldiers already died before even the Japanese came to Nanking. When we were about to finish the conversation about this horrendous war, another injured man came in. He was from the boundary of Nanking, not Shanghai like other injured soldiers who were transferred because the Japanese already destroyed the hospital.
In the afternoon, I visited the refugee camp located on the rural area of Nanking. As the president of Nanking Committee of the international Red Cross Organization, I feel responsible for these poor people who are about to be killed. There were Chinese civilians who were in a great fear of death. I also saw some of the kids crying in the street without their parents. After looking at these scenes in hospital and refugee camp, I realized my new job from today: helping the Chinese people. My daily routine would be similar everyday until the war ends: take care of patients in hospital and help people at the refugee camp. Since I’m not the target that the Japanese are planning to kill, I will try my best to get people out of this danger.
I’ve received and read your letter a couple days ago. Faith and I are doing fine even though Faith started to freak out as she realized that our safety is not guaranteed anymore. Therefore, we moved into the Nanking Safety Zone. It is new year’s eve already, and several months have passed since the Japanese first invaded China. After reading your gracious letter about your appalling experience, I was surprised by your story even though I live in this turmoil, Nanking also. I was not able to observe what was going on at the battlefield and the place where the Japanese troops passed by because I was busy taking care of the Chinese who needed help. Also, I wanted to keep my family safe, and that’s why my family and I have only been in the safe zone of Nanking. Is it true that the ruthless Japanese soldiers raped the Chinese women, and they begged for your help? That is unbelievably inhuman. I feel sorry for both the Chinese women and you because all you could do was just stand there and watch... Now, I want to tell you what I heard from one of the injured soldiers at the hospital. He told me that he’s very lucky to be alive talking to me because most of his comrades were killed savagely. He said that the battlefield is completely chaos with the sounds of bombing and gun shots. The Chinese troops retreated because there was no chance of winning the battle with these tactics. The Chinese soldiers lost their confidence and their morale was extremely low. I knew that the Japanese are trying to destroy the city, but I didn’t know that they were raping and killing everyone they see. I hope this disastrous invasion ends as soon as possible, and let’s hope that we could meet up soon. Be safe and keep in touch my friend!
Sincerely,
John Gillespie
December 31st, 1937
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell
January 5th, 1938
Happy new year? No. This is the worst way to start a new year. The Nanking Safety Zone is still protected keeping my family safe. However, outside of this area, there is no way that one could recognize this country as China. Everything is destroyed. I’ve been running around the streets of Nanking lately. After reading what my friend, George Fitch, saw and did, I decided to leave the Nanking Safety Zone. Before I left, I told John Rabe, the German Businessman who controls the Nanking Safety Zone, to take care of my family if I don’t come back. Instead of weapon, I picked up my camera that I brought from the United States when I left the Nanking Safety Zone. I was planning to record everything I see to show the world how brutal and inhuman the Japanese soldiers are. “Please don’t hurt yourself...” These are the last words that I heard from my wife before I left.
As soon as I left the safety zone, there was a different world in front of my eyes. It was more like hell than a place where people used to live. When I was filming a destroyed building, I heard a gun shot. Actually, it was more like a shooting spree. I followed the sound. The Chinese civilians including women were being slaughtered mercilessly. Some of the women were getting raped in front of their family. After it was done, everyone was killed right away. The Japanese soldiers were just playing and fooling around with the Chinese women. How could the Japanese soldiers humiliate the same humans like this? Are they humans? At that moment, I didn’t think they were even human beings. While watching these horrifying actions, I successfully filmed everything I saw. However, not every Japanese soldier was malicious. When everyone else was taking rest, I saw a Japanese soldier letting the captured babies and their parents run away. Why can’t everyone be like him? There would be no harm in the first place if everyone lives in a harmony. I came back late to the safety zone and told my wife that I will be going again tomorrow. My wife doesn’t know what I saw today, and she probably won’t let me go out again if she knows about this. However, it’s a good thing that the war is slowly going to its end.
Diary # 5: A Survivor
November 18th, 1950
When I looked at the calendar, today, November 18th, seemed very special to me. After thinking for a few seconds, I found out why it seemed so special. Yes, it was the day when I heard the news about the Japanese invading Nanking. It’s been 13 years already, yet I can clearly recollect the scene where the Japanese soldiers were abusing the Chinese. I am happy to be here, alive with my family. However, I miss the innocent, delighted Chinese people who were talking to me nicer than anyone else. Also, I remember the joyful kids running down the street before the invasion. Even though they lost everything by the Japanese, I could see the true humanity through their pure smiles by helping them.
After the war was over, I retired from the president of Nanking Committee of the international Red Cross Organization because I wanted to spend the last part of my life in my homeland comfortably. Therefore I’m writing this in Washington D.C. However, I didn’t want to quit my job as a missionary, so I started to attend the local church as the priest. When I go to church everyday, I still pray for those civilians who were killed for no reason. I hope God protects them in another world. The videos that I have taken were smuggled, and somehow the US government saw all of them. I was happy in a way that it was shown to the world how the Japanese were inhuman and cruel, but I wasn’t happy about the fact that the videos were smuggled. Even though it was heartbreaking watching all the casualties of Nanking, I consider this war as the most marvelous experience in my life. And it suddenly occurred to me that my life was precious beyond words- that I was lucky to survive this freakish nightmare, and that others were not nearly as fortunate as I was. I can never fully describe the events or the impact these events had on me, but it is enough to say that people can be worse than dogs.
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Occupation: Missionary
Social Class: Middle class
Financial situation: Fairly good due to my parents
Appearance: I look older than my age. However, I smile a lot which makes me look friendly. I am tall and have short hair.
Location: Nanking
Habitual locations: Mostly, I stay at my house or work at hospital. During weekends, I go to Holy Cross Church.
Daily routine: I wake up early in the morning for my missionary works. Then, I eat my lunch and read newspapers for world news and the issues in China. In the afternoon, I work at a hospital assisting American doctors that came to help the Chinese. During night, I usually write diaries and letters to my parents and read bible.
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: I am smart and generous. I tend to help people a lot with my own will, using my own time. I was never pressured or forced by other people because this is my job, and I chose to come here. I love my family and always consider my family as the first factor to do something.
Past/individual-family history: My parents live in Pittsburgh, and my dad was a professor at the university of Pittsburgh. My parents are both Christians which made me a devoted Christian.
Family: I have wealthy parents in the United States and four sons after marrying my wife, Faith Backhouse, who is also a missionary. My family is currently living in Nanking except for my parents.
Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): Even though I am a wealthy American, I care for poor Chinese people by supporting them. Therefore, I have relations with a lot of low-class people. I felt something special with the Chinese that I couldn't feel in the United States. Also, I am the chairman of Nanking committee of the international Red Cross Organization. Therefore, I always help people who need help.
Religion: Christianity
Education: Yale University
Portrait: see right
Diary #1: Calm Before the Storm
August 18th, 1937 (The flags featured seem a bit incongruous with this story: the flag of the PRC did not fly in Nanking at the time of the RON, and typically, when flies are crossed like they are here, it is a sign of international cooperation)
Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
November 18th, 1937It’s been a long time since I wrote my last diary. I am writing this diary entry now because a few days ago, the Japanese troops finally invaded Nanking, the capital of this nation. The time has come. The city looked completely different from three months ago when just the rumors were around. Every building was burned as the Japanese troops passed by. I could not even say that this was their capital city after it was attacked dominantly. All I could see were ashes on the ground that I could feel every time I stepped forward. I needed to do something instead of just sitting around in my room. Casualties increased as the war was intensified.
While I was worried about the Chinese people including the soldiers and families, I went to the hospital of Nanking University. It was nice and big, and most importantly, it was the safest area in Nanking so far because it was deep inside the city. When I stepped inside, I saw a enthusiastic white-skinned doctor taking care of the Chinese. It was Dr.James Henry McCallum, and his wife, Eva, was there also. He was a missionary from the United States like me. We had a lot of common points together in this foreign continent. I decided to stay here until the war ends because I was motivated by Dr.McCallum’s hard work and personality. I felt like we needed more people to help and cure these wounded soldiers that never seem to decrease. Dr.McCallum was a generous and kind person. He took care of soldiers as if they are his family members. We talked about the situation of China, and he was miserable about this because the war was going on after he came. As a doctor, he hoped for peace in this land and wanted to cure people with illnesses, not these bloody scars. He also told me that a lot of Chinese soldiers already died before even the Japanese came to Nanking. When we were about to finish the conversation about this horrendous war, another injured man came in. He was from the boundary of Nanking, not Shanghai like other injured soldiers who were transferred because the Japanese already destroyed the hospital.
In the afternoon, I visited the refugee camp located on the rural area of Nanking. As the president of Nanking Committee of the international Red Cross Organization, I feel responsible for these poor people who are about to be killed. There were Chinese civilians who were in a great fear of death. I also saw some of the kids crying in the street without their parents. After looking at these scenes in hospital and refugee camp, I realized my new job from today: helping the Chinese people. My daily routine would be similar everyday until the war ends: take care of patients in hospital and help people at the refugee camp. Since I’m not the target that the Japanese are planning to kill, I will try my best to get people out of this danger.
Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down
Dear my friend George,
Sincerely,
John Gillespie
December 31st, 1937
Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell
January 5th, 1938As soon as I left the safety zone, there was a different world in front of my eyes. It was more like hell than a place where people used to live. When I was filming a destroyed building, I heard a gun shot. Actually, it was more like a shooting spree. I followed the sound. The Chinese civilians including women were being slaughtered mercilessly. Some of the women were getting raped in front of their family. After it was done, everyone was killed right away. The Japanese soldiers were just playing and fooling around with the Chinese women. How could the Japanese soldiers humiliate the same humans like this? Are they
Diary # 5: A Survivor
November 18th, 1950After the war was over, I retired from the president of Nanking Committee of the international Red Cross Organization because I wanted to spend the last part of my life in my homeland comfortably. Therefore I’m writing this in Washington D.C. However, I didn’t want to quit my job as a missionary, so I started to attend the local church as the priest. When I go to church everyday, I still pray for those civilians who were killed for no reason. I hope God protects them in another world. The videos that I have taken were smuggled, and somehow the US government saw all of them. I was happy in a way that it was shown to the world how the Japanese were inhuman and cruel, but I wasn’t happy about the fact that the videos were smuggled. Even though it was heartbreaking watching all the casualties of Nanking, I consider this war as the most marvelous experience in my life. And it suddenly occurred to me that my life was precious beyond words- that I was lucky to survive this freakish nightmare, and that others were not nearly as fortunate as I was. I can never fully describe the events or the impact these events had on me, but it is enough to say that people can be worse than dogs.
WORKS CITED
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/Nanking/Magee.html
http://www.crossed-flag-pins.com/Friendship-Pins/Japan/Flag-Pins-Japan-China.html
http://padresteve.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/revisionist-history-and-the-rape-of-nanking-1937/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nanking_Safety_Zone_street.PNG
http://www.worstpreviews.com/images/nanking.jpg
http://padresteve.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/revisionist-history-and-the-rape-of-nanking-1937/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeIxDezImGM
http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/IH059881.html